بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Translation of Dr. Shams Jilani “Roshni Hira Say” (Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in cave of Thawr & departure to Madinah) by Dr. Rehan Asad
Chapter (85)
During last section we discussed that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) along with Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) left Makkah & reached safely to the cave of Thawr.
When Qureysh came to know about this, they got desperate. The men were send in all directions of Makkah by them to search Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The leaders of their tribe made an announcement of hundred camels prize for those who will be able to search Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) & his friend Abu Bakr (RA). After announcement of hundred camels, innumerable number of people starts searching both of them. By the command of Almighty Allah the entrance of cave got obscured by the web of spider, nest of the pigeons & many wild bushes grows around its entrance. Now due to these wild weeds, the people outside the cave were not able to saw inside but from inside one can notice the movement outside. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) saw the group of infidels outside the entrance of the cave, he said to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), O Prophet (PBUH), now we don’t have any chance. Most probably they will catch us. On listening this Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) replied, O Abu Bakr, don’t get frightened, the Almighty Allah is with us. No one can inflict any harm on us. One among them suggested searching this cave from inside but the leader of the team rejected completely. He said, didn’t you saw the web of the spider, nest of birds and these green weeds. If anyone enters in this cave then it would not be like this. After some discussion they left the place. Some of the narrators wrote that the pigeons residing in Makkah are descended from this pigeon. May Allah know the truth? But it was the same Almighty Allah who took away their sight when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was leaving his home & here their senses were altered. Some narrators cited that first Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) entered inside the cave of Thawr. He closed all the openings to make it safe & secure. Then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) entered. After entering inside the cave, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took a nap & his head was resting in the lap of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). While Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sleeping, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) noticed that one of the crevices in the cave still remained opened. With a fear of any insect & reptiles to creep out from this opening, he blocked it by the big toe of his foot. A snake or a Scorpio stinged on his toe while making an attempt to come out of his hiding. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) didn’t make any movement so that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sleep will not get disturb. When the pain became extreme, he cried that make Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) awake. He asked Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) the reason for his situation. When he get to know that something has sting on the big toe of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) immediately suck the poison from his mouth & he got relieved. Some narrators quotes that it was a bite of a snake while other says that it was scorpion. The extreme pain experienced by Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) made a sense that he might be stinged by a Scorpio. The snake bites usually remain silent till its toxins affect the different parts of body. Those people who were acquainted by the historical culture of Arabs can think that why they were not able to trace both of them by their footsteps. As due to explorations in the desert routes, the Arabs were so expert in identifying persons by the signs of footsteps. Even it has widely quoted that once an explorer said by the marks of the camel hoof that this she camel has a single eye. When they chased & find that she camel, it was true. Then how come they didn’t able to trace the footmarks of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) & his friend, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA).
Cont’d for the next week
